POLICE MAKE ARREST IN NORTH END HOMICIDE – Cause of death not disclosed

On July 20, 2015 at approximately 7:30 am, emergency personnel responded to a residence located in the 600 block of Pritchard Ave regarding a fire.

Once the fire was extinguished, further examination revealed a deceased male within the residence.

The victim was identified as Justin Harvey Chezick (42) of Winnipeg.

Members of the Homicide Unit continued the investigation and identified a suspect in the incident. Attempts to locate the suspect were unsuccessful and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On July 27, 2015, the suspect, Romeo Ryle (19) years, turned himself into police custody.

Ryle has been charged with 2nd degree murder and arson to property for his alleged involvement.

He was detained in custody.

INSIDER COMMENTARY:

Police refused to disclose Chezick’s cause of death indicating, “As this is an ongoing investigation we will not be providing any further details.”

As a result, it is not known if Chezick died as a result of the arson or if the suspect killed him and then set fire to the residence to cover up the crime or destroy evidence related to the crime.

Those details are sure to become public once the matter proceeds through the courts.

Chezick is the 15th reported homicide victim in Winnipeg this year.

All but tw0 (2) cases (87.5%) have been solved.

WORST CASE OF ARSON RELATED HOMICIDE IN YWG

On July 16, 2011 Lulonda Flett (36) intentionally set fire to the porch of an Austin Street rooming house in a vengeful criminal act aimed at two of her boyfriends relatives who she believed “snitched” on her to the Police.

That heinous act resulted in the senseless death of five (5) innocent victims who ranged in age from twenty-two (22) to fifty-six (56) years of age.

Flett plead guilty to five (5) counts of Manslaughter and received five (5) concurrent life sentences.